Community Clean Air Grant Program

The Community Clean Air Grant Program, initiated by the City of Boston's Air Pollution Control Commission, seeks proposals from nonprofit organizations for projects that reduce urban air pollution. This initiative aims to enhance public health and tackle climate change impacts, particularly in marginalized communities disproportionately affected by air pollution. Eligible projects include efforts to mitigate pollution sources, improve community monitoring capabilities, and achieve measurable air quality improvements. The program emphasizes support for vulnerable populations facing health risks from environmental pollutants.

NOTE: If you would like to receive formal feedback on your proposal from APCC prior to the application deadline, please submit an optional preliminary proposal using by  Friday, May 15. Please email all submissions to grant coordinator and will review all complete submissions and return feedback by Monday, June 1.
Overview:
The City of Boston, through the Environment Department’s Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations for community-based projects that reduce air pollution in the City of Boston. This grant program aims to improve public and environmental health while addressing local impacts of climate change.
About the Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC):
The APCC is responsible for developing and implementing clean air policies and programs within the City of Boston. This grant is funded by the Pollution Abatement Fund, established in 1984 to support pollution abatement programs through fees collected from environmental permits and fines. The Fund has primarily received permit fees from the parking freezes and has been used to support air quality initiatives under 310 CMR 7.33 and the Federal Clean Air Act.
Air Pollution in Boston:
Air pollution disproportionately affects historically marginalized communities in Boston, particularly those near highways and major transportation infrastructure. Exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), ozone, and greenhouse gases contributes to higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Additionally, greenhouse gases like methane, ozone, and carbon dioxide contribute to climate change, leading to more severe flooding, storms, and heat waves. These climate impacts will disproportionately affect socially vulnerable populations, including black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), low-income residents, older adults, and individuals with limited English proficiency.
To explore where climate risks are most significant, applicants may refer to the Massachusetts 2020 Environmental Justice Populations Map, which identifies environmental justice (EJ) block groups based on state-defined demographic criteria.

Eligibility

Projects/programs must serve at least one of the following purposes in order to be eligible for funding through the Clean Air Community Grants Program:

• Reduce or eliminate local sources of air pollution within the City.
• Mitigate the health impacts of air pollution exposure within the City, with a focus on vulnerable populations.
• Enhance the capacity of communities or businesses in the City to monitor, reduce, or prevent air pollution.
• Deliver measurable improvements in air quality or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions within the City.

Ineligibility

The following activities are not eligible for funding:

• Non-project-related travel
• General operating expenses
• Political or policy advocacy campaigns
• Conference or workshop attendance fees
• Long-term or future planning efforts
• Academic research